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Phoenix Festival: Five Fantastic Festival Stages!

It’s all systems go as this years’ Phoenix Festival prepares five fantastic stages for over 80 different music and dance performers over the August bank holiday weekend.

This year the much loved free festival is set to entertain festival goers with a wider variety of performers in five different areas across the beautiful Abbey Grounds, Cirencester on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th August.

The areas include: the Cozy Powell stage, the Vaults stage, the Lets Play Music Open Mic stage, the Performance Arena and new for this year, the DJ Bandstand.

The Cozy Powell main stage will be alive and kicking with the sounds of indie, rock, punk, swing, rhythm, blues, country and folk. This includes, the UK’s hottest swamp blues group, the Dustbowl Children, who shook the beer tent last year and Chris Allan’s Octopuss who will be performing a full band tribute to legendary rock drummer, Cozy Powell. Special guests Oas-is and Who’s Next will headline, bringing an adrenalin-fueled show with lots of fun and attitude.

The Vaults and Pancast PODuctions will be hosting a jam packed line up on The Vaults stage. This includes, the beautiful duo Ethemia who never fail to captivate with their musical tunes and tales and the gritty Little Red Kings, an alternative rock five piece band offering ballads and rootsy stompers. All in the slightly bigger beer tent where lagers, real ales, ciders, wines and soft drinks will keep you lubricated.

The Vaults stage will also be showcasing two rising stars, 16 year old Harry Smith and 17 year old Tanis Rubringer. Both performed last year on the Let’s Play Music Open Mic stage and blew the crowds away. This year they have been invited back to experience a bigger stage. Harry said “I’m so thrilled to be invited to play at the Phoenix Festival” and Tanis added “playing last year was a really rewarding experience but I can't wait to play the Vaults stage. I'm so grateful to be given the opportunity”.

The Let’s Play Music Open Mic stage was a huge success and will be back in full swing this year. It brings a special warmth to the festival, encouraging local amateur talent of all ages with 4-72 year olds taking to the stage, some for the first time. They include drummers, guitarists, keyboard players, duos and solo singers and this year they are looking for even more styles, instruments and music. Managing Director, Stuart Elwin said “We are really looking forward to building on our stages great reputation from last year and seeing the diverse range of new talent that our local area has. So if you fancy having a go, do get in touch via our letsplaymusic website before the end of July!”
A dynamic new addition to this years’ festival is The Bandstand, hosted by ReVA Night Club and 17 Black. This will feature top local DJs, DJ workshops and special guests, all squeezed into the legendary Abbey Grounds bandstand. Saturday will see international drum and bass pioneer, Nicky Blackmarket grace the decks alongside Lifesize MC. There will be hip-hop, RnB and reggae, plus two 30 minute slots open for budding up and coming DJs. In addition, ReVA are running a DJ competition for under 18s and over 18s with a top prize of winning a set at this years’ festival. If you think you have some DJ skills get in touch with ReVA.

No festival is complete without its’ Arena and this year the arts and dance performers will enthrall and engage the crowds with Ninja Tots martial arts, Phoenix Flames cheerleaders, Cirencester Creative Dance Academy and Active4Less Latin-inspired dance-fitness Zumba.

Glen Moreman, Festival Organiser said: “We are so excited about this years’ festival and really hope it shows how hard the Festival Team have all worked to build on previous years, take on board audience feedback and embrace the Phoenix values of opportunity, community and inclusiveness. Here’s wishing you all a fun-filled festival! Enjoy!”
Be sure to get there early and pick up a festival program, with so much going on you’ll need it!